Anne Sexton

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Anne Sexton
By: Mattie, Aimee, and Max
Picture of Anne Sexton, poet; twentieth century American Literature and poetry
Picture of Anne Sexton, poet; twentieth century American Literature and poetry

http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/anne.sexton.asp




Anne's Personal Life:

  • She was born on November 9th, 1928 in Newton, Massachusetts
  • She was the youngest of three daughters
  • She was a model for the Hart Agency
  • In 1948 she married Alfred Muller Sexton at the age of 19
  • She had two daughters named Joyce Ladd and Linda Gray
  • Her husband abused her, so that was when their marriage fell apart
  • Had diagnosed depression and was hospitalized for a period of time in her adulthood
  • Commited suicide after a first attempt on October 4, 1974

Anne Sexton all dressed up
Anne Sexton all dressed up


http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/anne.sexton.asp




What encouraged her to write:
  • When she went to therapy, her therapist encouraged her to write
  • After her parents died, she thought that the only thing that could keep her standing was poetry
  • Because of an emotional breakdown she began writing poetry
  • She started to write professionally in 1957
  • Talks about how she was a misunderstood woman in her poetry
Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton


http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/anne.sexton.asp

Poems/ Plays/ Books:
  • In 1967, her poem Live or Die got the Pulitzer Prize for poetry
  • Wrote a book called To Bedlam and Part Way Back
  • In 1969, she had an off- Broadway production of her play Mercy Street


Changes she made:

  • In her poems, she usually talked about her feelings and her life
  • Her poems were mostly about depression
  • She showed that writing poetry can help you turn your life around


One of Her Poems:

Locked Doors
By: Anne Sexton
For the angels who inhabit this town,
although their shape constantly changes,
each night we leave some cold potatoes
and a bowl of milk on the windowsill.
Usually they inhabit heaven where,
by the way, no tears are allowed.
They push the moon around like
a boiled yam.
The Milky Way is their hen
with her many children.
When it is night the cows lie down
but the moon, that big bull,
stands up.

However, there is a locked room up there
with an iron door that can't be opened.
It has all your bad dreams in it.
It is hell.
Some say the devil locks the door
from the inside.
Some say the angels lock it from the outside.
The people inside have no water
and are never allowed to touch.
They crack like macadam.
They are mute.
They do not cry help
except inside
where their hearts are covered with grubs.

I would like to unlock that door,
turn the rusty key
and hold each fallen one in my arms
but I cannot, I cannot.
I can only sit here on earth
at my place at the table.

http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/annesexton/9323\


Sources:

Ryan, Kay. "Anne Sexton." Poetry Speaks. Naperville, 2001. 294-99. Print.

Costello, Bonnie. "Sexton, Anne." World Book Enciclopedia. 2006. Print.

Wagner-Martin, Linda. "Anne Sexton." Modern American Poetry. Oxford University Press, 12 Mar 2001. Web. 24 Jan 2011. http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/s_z/sexton/sexton_life.htm.

Crystal, David, ed. "Sexton, Ann." Biographical Encyclopedia. New York: Cambridge UP, 1994. 853. Print.

"Anne Sexton Life Stories, Books, & Links." Great Stories, People, Books & Events in Literary History. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/anne.sexton.asp.
Locked Doors - A Poem by Anne Sexton - American Poems." American Poems - YOUR Poetry Site. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/annesexton/9323/>.
Photo Story Sources:
"Graphcut Textures: Image and Video Synthesis Using Graph Cuts." The Computational Perception Laboratory. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. http://cpl.cc.gatech.edu/projects/graphcuttextures/.

"PingMag - The Tokyo-based Magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » 5 Steps to CSS Heaven." PingMag - The Tokyo-based Magazine about “Design and Making Things”. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. http://pingmag.jp/2006/05/18/5-steps-to-css-heaven/.

"Alexander and Things Magic Shop Moon Phase Page." ANT Index Page. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. [[http://www.alexanderandthings.com/Moon Phase Page.htm]].

Difley, Bob. "New York." RV Camping: RV Campground & Camping Information - RV, Motorhome, Camper, Travel Trailer & 5th Wheel Owners. 13 Dec. 2008. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. http://blog.rv.net/tag/new-york/.

"Cows Lying Down:: OS Grid NY2951." Geograph Britain and Ireland - Photograph Every Grid Square! Web. 31 Jan. 2011. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1474985.

"Locked Doors - A Poem by Anne Sexton - American Poems." American Poems - YOUR Poetry Site. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/annesexton/9323/.

"Crying Lady." Digital image. Trekearth. Web. 3 Feb. 2011.
<http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Philippines/NCR/Manila/Manila/photo19451.htm>.

"Paris Crying." Digital image. Opposing Views. Web. 26 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.opposingviews.com/i/vegas-police-should-have-let-paris-hilton-sit-in-jail-longer>.

"Old Door and Key Hole" Digital image. Dan Heller Photography. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <http://www.danheller.com/images/Europe/Croatia/Milna/DoorsWins/Slideshow/img3.html>.





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